Cessna 172 accident near Churchville, Maryland, August 23, 2018
On August 23, 2018 at about 3:00 pm local time, a 2000 Cessna 172, registered N419SP, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (landing roll) near Churchville, Maryland (Harford County airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's failure to maintain directional control after landing left of the runway centerline, which resulted in a runway excursion and impact with a power box.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 23, 2018 · about 3:00 pm local time
- Place
- Churchville, Maryland · Harford County · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172 S, built 2000 · all 172s on the register
- Registration
- N419SP · no longer on the register · serial 172S8350
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot reported that, during landing, on short final, he "corrected the approach with a crab for a crosswind landing," and the airplane touched down on the first third of the runway "slightly fast" and left of the runway centerline. During the landing roll, the airplane gradually veered left and exited the runway. The pilot applied full power and initiated a go-around, but the airplane continued left and struck a power box. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the right-wing lift strut and right horizontal stabilizer. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. An automated weather observation station located on an airport about 6 nautical miles away from the accident site reported that, about the time of the accident, the wind was variable at 4 knots. The pilot reported that the wind was from the north and between about 10 and 15 knots. The pilot landed the airplane on runway 28.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
What happened, in order
- Abnormal runway contact during landing (landing roll)
- Loss of control on ground during landing (aborted after touchdown)
- Runway excursion during landing (landing roll) defining event
- Runway excursion during landing (aborted after touchdown)
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during landing (aborted after touchdown)
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Directional control › Not attained/maintained
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
- cause Environmental issues › Physical environment › Object/animal/substance › (general) › Effect on operation
Pilot
- Certificate: private, remote
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 503 hours in all; 350 in this make and model
- Last flight review: September 9, 2016
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: unk
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Maximum gross weight: 2,299 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming IO360 SER A&C (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: C K Leasing Servics Llc
The flight
- Departed from: 0W3 Churchville MD
- Destination: 0W3 Churchville MD
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 28, 2,000 ft by 40 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 360° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 72°F (22°C), dew point 55°F (13°C)
- Altimeter: 30.06 inHg
- Observation at 2:59 pm from KAPG, 6 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
3 documents, released by the NTSB on December 5, 2019. View them here, or download them; the NTSB redacts some personal details before release, and this site shows the NTSB's own titles rather than its file names.
| # | Document | What it is | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Record of Conversation - Pilot | PDF, 2 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Accident Photo | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 3 | Pilot Statement | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.